Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Mona Lisa Cream’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Mona Lisa Cream’, characterized by its double anemone-type inflorescences with elliptic-shaped, creamy white-colored ray florets; strong and upright flowering stems; freely flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Mona Lisa Cream’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium and referred to by the name ‘Mona Lisa Cream’.

The new Chrysanthemum is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Mona Lisa Pink, not patented. The new Chrysanthemum was discovered and selected by the Inventor in October, 2003 as a single flowering plant within a population of plants of the parent selection in a controlled environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings harvested in Hensbroek, The Netherlands since November, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Mona Lisa Cream has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Mona Lisa Cream’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Mona Lisa Cream’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Double anemone-type inflorescences with elliptic-shaped,         creamy white-colored ray florets; typically grown as a         spray-type.     -   2. Strong and upright flowering stems.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Early and uniform flowering response.     -   5. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the parent, the cultivar Mona Lisa Pink. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa Pink primarily in ray floret coloration as plants of the new Chrysanthemum had pink-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can also be compared to plants of the Chrysanthemum cultivar Mona Lisa Salmon, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 11/118,921. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed primarily from plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa Salmon in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Chrysanthemum had apiculate         apices whereas leaves of plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa Salmon         had cuspidate apices.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more freely flowering         than plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa Salmon.     -   3. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum were elliptic         in shape whereas ray florets of plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa         Salmon were lanceolate in shape.     -   4. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum were creamy         white in color whereas ray florets of plants of the cultivar         Mona Lisa Salmon were salmon pink in color.     -   5. Inflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum had more         ray florets than inflorescences of plants of the cultivar Mona         Lisa Salmon.     -   6. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered earlier than plants         of the cultivar Mona Lisa Salmon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Mona Lisa Cream’.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet comprises a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘Mona Lisa Cream’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of the upper and lower surfaces of typical inflorescences and leaves of ‘Mona Lisa Cream’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 17.5° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18.5° C. to 24° C. and light levels were about five kilolux. Plants were pinched once and were about ten weeks from planting when the photographs and the description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Mona     Lisa Cream. -   Commercial classification: Double anemone-type Chrysanthemum     typically grown as a spray-type cut flower. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the     Chrysanthemum×morifolium Mona Lisa Pink, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 6 days at 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 7 days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 14 days at             20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 16 days at             20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine and freely branching; light brown in             color. -   Plant description:     -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous double anemone-type cut             Chrysanthemum; typically grown as a spray-type; erect and             strong flowering stems. Moderately vigorous and growth             habit.         -   Flowering stem description.—Length: About 70 cm to 80 cm.             Diameter: About 6 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent.             Aspect: Erect. Branching habit: Plants are typically grown             as single stems. Color: 146A.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 6 cm to 13 cm. Width: About 5 cm to 8 cm. Apex:             Apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed.             Texture, upper and lower surface: Slightly pubescent.             Petiole length: About 1 mm to 2 cm. Color: Developing             foliage, upper surface: 137A. Developing foliage, lower             surface: Close to 138A. Fully expanded foliage, upper             surface: 137A to 137B; venation, 147B to 147C. Fully             expanded foliage, lower surface: 146A; venation, 147C.             Petiole, upper and lower surfaces: 147B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Double anemone-type inflorescence form with             elliptic-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on             terminals above foliage. Disk and ray florets develop             acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences not fragrant.             Typically grown as a spray-type.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant             typically flower in November in the Northern Hemisphere. At             other times of the year, inflorescence initiation and             development can be induced under short day/long night             conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plants exposed             to long day/short night conditions after planting followed             by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower             about seven weeks later. Early and uniform flowering             response.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Cut inflorescences will maintain             good substance and form for about three weeks.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per flowering stem.—About 25 to             30 inflorescences per flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6 cm to 7 cm. Depth             (height): About 2 cm. Diameter of disc: About 1 cm to 3 cm.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 5 mm to 6 mm. Diameter:             About 8 mm to 1 cm. Shape: Oblate. Color: 137C.         -   Ray florets.—Length: About 2 cm to 3.5 cm. Width: About 8 mm             to 1.6 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Broadly acuminate. Base:             Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Number of ray florets per inflorescence:             About 60 in numerous whorls. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 155A. When opening, lower surface: Close             to 155C. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             155C.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; elongated. Length: About 4 mm             to 1.4 cm. Width: About 1 mm to 3 mm. Number of disc florets             per inflorescence: About 75. Color: Immature: 145B. Mature:             Apex: 2A. Mid-section: 4D. Base: 144D.         -   Phyllaries.—Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous.             Texture, lower surface: Pubescent. Color, upper surface:             Close to 146A. Color, lower surface: Close to 147A to 147B.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 4 cm. Length,             fourth peduncle: About 7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 3 mm.             Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: 137C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: None observed on disc             florets. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets.             Stigma length: About 3 mm. Stigma diameter: About 0.3 mm.             Stigma color: Towards the apex, 143B; towards the base,             145A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to known Chrysanthemum pathogens     and pests has not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Mona Lisa Cream’, as illustrated and described. 